The Island (1980)

[Trevor]

I saw this when it was released in 1980 and why my folks let me see it, I have no idea. There wasn't much of an age restriction on it so my 13 year old eyes saw a hell of a lot  back then and similarly, my 43 year old eyes saw this horror again last night. I cannot believe that Michael Caine was in this, I don't know if he needed the money but what I do know is that back in 1980, I wanted to tear the actor who played his son a new one and I still want to.

I read that the film rights for the Peter Benchley novel were sold for around $2.5 million for this. 

The only highpoint for me is where Michael Caine *SPOILER* *SPOILER* shoots the hell out of the pirates with a .50 calibre machine gun and the presence of SA actor Zakes Mokae.

Also Ennio Morricone's highly inappropriate score: I don't think he actually saw the movie.   

[claws]

Bad but entertaining movie for all the wrong reasons. I dig it 

[Trevor]

Bad but entertaining movie for all the wrong reasons. I dig it 

In it's cheesy way, it is OK, I think. It's also the only film that I've ever seen (I think) where someone is killed with a flare pistol. 

[The Burgomaster]

I enjoyed the movie, even though it was far fetched and some scenes were downright silly.  I saw it in the theater 3 times when it came out!  Then I saw it a couple times on HBO or Showtime.  I haven't seen it in a long time, but I'm sure I would buy it if it was released on DVD.

I also read Peter Benchley's book, which was quite different from the movie.

[Flick James]

I enjoyed the movie, even though it was far fetched and some scenes were downright silly.  I saw it in the theater 3 times when it came out!  Then I saw it a couple times on HBO or Showtime.  I haven't seen it in a long time, but I'm sure I would buy it if it was released on DVD.

I also read Peter Benchley's book, which was quite different from the movie.

Jaws is the only Benchley novel I've ever read, and it was also quite different from the film. Looking at some of the adaptations of his work, he strikes me as the Stephen King of the sea, except that he only wrote a few books. I'm not saying he's a poor writer, I just think that Jaws probably helped finance a career that otherwise would have flown under the radar.

[Flick James]

I enjoyed the movie, even though it was far fetched and some scenes were downright silly.  I saw it in the theater 3 times when it came out!  Then I saw it a couple times on HBO or Showtime.  I haven't seen it in a long time, but I'm sure I would buy it if it was released on DVD.

I also read Peter Benchley's book, which was quite different from the movie.

Jaws is the only Benchley novel I've ever read, and it was also quite different from the film. Looking at some of the adaptations of his work, he strikes me as the Stephen King of the sea, except that he only wrote a few books. I'm not saying he's a poor writer, I just think that Jaws probably helped finance a career that otherwise would have flown under the radar.

Rereading that I can see how it would look like a dig at Stephen King. I like Stephen King, actually. The comparison was based on the elements of horror added to largely nautical themes, that's all.

[Torgo]

Hilariously awful! This makes a great Michael Caine bad film double feature with Jaws: The Revenge.

[TheDope]

Trevor, why do you do this to yourself?  The Island is way too painful to sit through for any living mortal.

You really need to do something less painful, like self-surgery.   

- TGWD

[Trevor]

Hilariously awful! This makes a great Michael Caine bad film double feature with Jaws: The Revenge.

Heyy.... welcome back, Torgo! 

[Trevor]

Trevor, why do you do this to yourself?  The Island is way too painful to sit through for any living mortal.

You really need to do something less painful, like self-surgery.   

- TGWD

I remember reading Peter Benchley's book and had to ask my Dad what the word 'viscera' meant. 

[BoyScoutKevin]

Bad but entertaining movie for all the wrong reasons. I dig it 

In it's cheesy way, it is OK, I think. It's also the only film that I've ever seen (I think) where someone is killed with a flare pistol. 

Death by flare pistol. Not a common death in films, but not unknown neither. I believe Tyrone Power shoots and kills a man with a flare pistol in "Abandon Ship."

Having read for some reason, several of Benchley's novels, I agree he was not much of an author, but his books, as in this case, tend to be better than the films made out of them. "Jaws" being one of the few exceptions, where the film is clearly superior to the book upon which it is based.

I say the book is better than the film, maybe because while I can watch almost anything, this is one of the few films I have seen, that I cannot stand to watch to the end.

[RCMerchant]

I saw this on Showtime in the early 80's.
I enjoyed it. Mostly cuz of Micheal Caine.
I liked his other movie-made about the same time - but better-the HAND.
In the tradition of  the BEAST WITH 5 FINGERS and the CRAWLING HAND-directed by Oliver Stone,no less-who had already done the Jonathon (Barnabus Collins) Frid horror film  SEIZURE (1974).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgHUPOlmcCI&feature=related